Can you help clear up my confusion?

[crystalmoon]

:confused: I am high raw & am aiming to join November challenge to start my 100% raw lifestyle. I need to lose lots of weight but my primary aim is for the best health possible:)
I was toatlly convinced raw was the best way to heal my mind, body & spirit but I have recently read/heard a few things that are really confusing me.
I have read some stories about some long time raw fooders (5or more years)dying because of their diet:eek:
Also of people losing all their hair & teeth!
I know I'm jumping ahead of myself to be concerned by this as Im not even 100% raw yet but once I am I want it to be a lifestyle that I continue with for my entire life in order to have a healthy future.
These reports all said the people concerned did great on raw foods for many years before a downward spiral in health:confused:
Has anyone heard similar things?
Is there anyone on this site who has been raw for over 10 years?
Is their anything I need to be extra careful to eat to ensure good health?
(I know green smoothies is one)
I havent got Alissa's book/dvd yet, am a single mum so have to save up for them.

[greenday]

http://www.thegardendiet.com/

This is a good reference. Storm has been eating a raw vegan diet for over 30 years! Hope this helps.

[trinity082482]

Really?? People have died from raw? I haven't heard of any situations like that.
Raw is good for you. And the best thing about it is you can choose what you are putting in your diet (customizing) to get your true optimal health.

[Riiiya]

i'd like to see those articles or stories. Who knows how exactly they were eating and what. hmm

[NYbutterfly]

Whoever died on "raw" was probably eating raw beef and pork.

[Rawkinlocs]

Yeah, there are some "scary" stories out there but just like with anything else, you have to watch who you listen to and take a lot of what you read/hear with a grain of salt. Sure, you can learn from others experiences but you are not them and they are not you...your experiences will be your own so just try to get in tune with your own body and listen to your own bodily signals.

Thing is, when people share these stories, they don't give much more than, "I ate raw for _____" but don't go into a lot of detail about HOW they ate raw or what exactly they ate, lifestyle at the time, if they were stressing and obsessing over the diet, etc.

But look at it this way, when it's someone's time, it's their time regardless (at least that's how I see it). Teeth is a tricky issue...hair loss, well I have my own theory about that...but often times, people are going through some sort of detox and then panic. Keep in mind that not EVERY-one has those types of experiences on raw. Alissa is a shining example of someone who has been doing this longterm and who has beautiful, healthy teeth, hair, nails, skin, etc and there are many others, some of whom are posting on this very forum...maybe not as longterm as Alissa, but longer than 4-5 years.

I tend to want to see the more positive results just so I can know that it IS possible to eat this way and still maintain one's health. Balancing your diet is key...fats, greens, veggies, fruit, etc. and not just ____ or _____.

Please, people do not post those links here...Google works wonders for finding just about any and everything you want (and don't want) to know about the raw diet. Check out the Mission Statement as well as Alissa's "Please don't post anti-raw sites" thread that is a sticky in this forum area to see why I am requesting that you not post them here. Thanks! :)

[EmJo]

From my personal research, I'm guessing those stories may be referring to people who ate too much fruit and not enough plant proteins and greens.

[StarFire]

Okay ... yes... I know someone who has been 'raw' for a loooong time - about 8 years I think -- I saw them last month and was shocked... his teeth are falling out -- his hair -- well... i dunno about that stuff on his head -- looked more like dead dried straw. he's 5'10" and weighed about 98 lbs....

he is a friend of dh's... and he stopped by to visit...

he has always 'bragged' about being raw - bragged about his 'healthy diet'.... (key word their being DIE'it)....

I happened to be fixing some enchiladas from Alissas book and thought - oh --- that's so cool - he's coming over and I can invite him to eat with me --- some wonderful - yummy raw food!

when I wanted to serve him some dinner - he said..."oh - no -- I only eat raw..." I pointed out that all of it IS RAW!....

he said -- no - no ... I don't eat stuff like this....

??? whaaat??? :confused:

he nibbled on some lettuce... that was it. lettuce - not even a tomato, or cucumber... wouldn't even try the raw feast I had fixed....

yeah--- no wonder his teeth are falling out and his hair looked dead and lifeless.... his skin was horrid - dry - saggy, it looked like it was covered with layers of dead skin.... and his mind doesn't seem to function well either. He literally eats NO FATS...none - not an avocado - nothing... he eats STUPID.

so - when someone says they're 'raw'.... I learned that doesnt mean they are eating a balanced menu of 'raw goodness.'

Everyone I've ever known that eats balanced raw or high raw foods- has beautiful skin, hair, teeth -- and glowing health, and mental and spiritual strength and vibrancy... ;) :D

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/naked.jpg

[viva diva]

is this a good days ;

bananas
plums
spinach
apples
in a green smoothie

large LARGE avocado salad with tomato and spinach and seeds and a red bell pepper and extra virgin olive oil and romaine lettuce

nuts to nibble and water nd dates

*look at my halo* for someone new its not bad is it?

[ladypeace82]

Okay ... yes... I know someone who has been 'raw' for a loooong time - about 8 years I think -- I saw them last month and was shocked... his teeth are falling out -- his hair -- well... i dunno about that stuff on his head -- looked more like dead dried straw. he's 5'10" and weighed about 98 lbs....

he is a friend of dh's... and he stopped by to visit...

he has always 'bragged' about being raw - bragged about his 'healthy diet'.... (key word their being DIE'it)....

I happened to be fixing some enchiladas from Alissas book and thought - oh --- that's so cool - he's coming over and I can invite him to eat with me --- some wonderful - yummy raw food!

when I wanted to serve him some dinner - he said..."oh - no -- I only eat raw..." I pointed out that all of it IS RAW!....

he said -- no - no ... I don't eat stuff like this....

??? whaaat???

he nibbled on some lettuce... that was it. lettuce - not even a tomato, or cucumber... wouldn't even try the raw feast I had fixed....

yeah--- no wonder his teeth are falling out and his hair looked dead and lifeless.... his skin was horrid - dry - saggy, it looked like it was covered with layers of dead skin.... and his mind doesn't seem to function well either. He literally eats NO FATS...none - not an avocado - nothing... he eats STUPID.

so - when someone says they're 'raw'.... I learned that doesnt mean they are eating a balanced menu of 'raw goodness.'

Everyone I've ever known that eats balanced raw or high raw foods- has beautiful skin, hair, teeth -- and glowing health, and mental and spiritual strength and vibrancy...


That's freaky. So he's pretty much been anorexic for 8 years with the occasional lettuce leaf.....?

[StarFire]

That's freaky. So he's pretty much been anorexic for 8 years with the occasional lettuce leaf.....?


:eek: ... OMG!!! LADYPEACE... THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I TOLD DH!!! http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/laugh.gif ...

I said..."HE'S NOT RAW - HE'S ANOREXIC!" the boy doesn't hardly even drink water... says it's all 'tainted'!!! :eek:

and ya know... he broke up with his girlfriend b/c he said she was anorexic - and he couldn't live with someone with so 'many emotional problems'...

ooookaaayy.... :eek:

[ladypeace82]

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm sureeeeee he couldn't. she probably broke up with him b/c she said HE was anorexic. I wonder how much longer his body will go on like that.

[EZ rider]

I have read some stories about some long time raw fooders (5 or more years) dying because of their dietIMO, people don't die from eating fresh, raw, natural, foods from the garden. People die from not eating them.

[crystalmoon]

Thank you so much all of you for answering me, i was worried about asking such a negative question but trusted you would understand where I was coming from.

Greenday - thanks soooooooo much for that link, really inspiring & has really helped me feel confident about raw food as a long term life choice for me

NYButterfly - yes I think you are probably right & I had wondered myself if it was raw meat eaters that were getting so very ill.

Rawkinlocs - thank you for allowing my post to be on the forum & for helping me to work through this confusion.

Starfire - I am really grateful for what you have shared. I had also wondered if those who have died have used 'raw' as an excuse to starve themselves. I am sorry your friend cannot see that they are very unwell. I have a past history of eating disorders but have been in recovery for many years now. some people I know think that I am using a raw food diet as a way to restrict my food intake because I am unhappy about the weight I have gained whilst on steroids for immune system problems but I know this is not the case & am eating nuts, seeds & avocados to ensure an adequate fat intake. Weight loss would be great but optimum health is my quest.

Thank you all for your help, I fel I can sleep easy tonight knowing that I am making a good health choice by eating raw vegan foods

[Stina]

Hi there- hey, your question was simply inquisitive. You certainly didn't present that in a way that made people feel defensive. This is how we learn.

Just a quick note as far as the hair and teeth issue. Instead of a deficiency causing hair loss, a radical shift to a nutritious diet could also trigger it and it would simply grow in much better quality hair. I've got this strange halo of frizzy hair on top of my long straight hair that is the "raw" hair coming in.

Also, the teeth- raw eating is so healthy it will cause the body to detox and minerals are what buffers the body against the newly recirculated toxins. Unless we are eating a diet very rich in minerals, the body will leach them from teeth and bones, causing dental caries. So, eat a variety of greens, lots and lots of greens, eat organic produce, it's much richer in minerals and therefore more economical considering the nutrition, and get to love your sea weed.

But it's okay to ask questions like that.

Starfire- what a sad story about the tortured soul hiding self-abuse behind the raw diet. What could have become the solution was distorted into the problem.

[EmJo]

[QUOTE=StarFire;339230
I said..."HE'S NOT RAW - HE'S ANOREXIC!" the boy doesn't hardly even drink water... says it's all 'tainted'!!! :eek:

and ya know... he broke up with his girlfriend b/c he said she was anorexic - and he couldn't live with someone with so 'many emotional problems'...

ooookaaayy.... :eek:[/QUOTE]

I wonder if he considers himself a breatharian?

Reminds me of a time 10 yrs ago I had dinner at a friend's house. She'd also invited someone whom her son had met at the HFS where he worked. This someon was in his early fifties, and on a raw food diet. He was totally emaciated, barely ate anything. And died a few months later. :(

Calories DO count. Not that we should be obsessed w/ counting calories, but the fact is, our body needs so many per day or it resorts to burning muscle to get the energy it needs.